U.S. patent number 7,702,415 [Application Number 11/443,319] was granted by the patent office on 2010-04-20 for positioning of embroidery.
This patent grant is currently assigned to KSIN Luxembourg II, S.AR.L. Invention is credited to Lars Roos.
United States Patent |
7,702,415 |
Roos |
April 20, 2010 |
Positioning of embroidery
Abstract
A method and an arrangement for placing an embroidery in the
desired position on a sewing material for embroidering on a sewing
machine which has a memory for embroidery elements and a processor
for reading stitch data for a selected embroidery element and for
manoeuvring the sewing machine to execute stitches associated with
the selected embroidery element on the sewing material, in which
pattern points are assigned to the embroidery element and
registered in the processor, and in which fabric points are marked
on the sewing material at points where corresponding pattern points
are to be located when embroidering, the sewing machine processor
automatically orienting and scaling executed patterns of the
embroidery element on the sewing material.
Inventors: |
Roos; Lars (Ulricehamn,
SE) |
Assignee: |
KSIN Luxembourg II, S.AR.L
(Luxembourg, LU)
|
Family
ID: |
36251006 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/443,319 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20060278150 A1 |
Dec 14, 2006 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/138;
112/475.19; 112/470.04; 112/456; 112/102.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B
19/10 (20130101); A41H 3/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D05C
5/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;700/135,136,138
;112/102.5,445,456,470.04,470.09,475.19 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Welch; Gary L
Assistant Examiner: Durham; Nathan E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Venable LLP Franklin; Eric J.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method for placing an embroidery in the desired position on a
sewing material for embroidering on a sewing machine which has a
memory for embroidery elements and a processor for reading stitch
data for a selected embroidery element and for manoeuvring the
sewing machine to execute stitches associated with the selected
embroidery element on the sewing material, in which the sewing
machine comprises: a needle which is set into a reciprocating
movement primarily along a perpendicular to the sewing material, an
embroidery frame on which the sewing material is stretched, and the
processor which controls movements of the embroidery frame
lengthwise and widthwise in relation to the needle position and
synchronously with the movement of the needle in order to execute
the embroidery according to the embroidery element selected, the
method comprising: assigning a first pattern point D1 to the
embroidery element and registering the first pattern point in the
processor; assigning a second pattern point D2 to the embroidery
element and registering the second pattern point in the processor;
marking a first fabric point C1 on the sewing material; marking a
second fabric point C2 on the sewing material; moving the
embroidery frame to a position in which the needle position
coincides with the first fabric point C1, the movement being
registered by the processor so that the processor in executing the
embroidery uses the position for the first fabric point C1 on the
sewing material as the position for the first pattern point D1 in
the embroidery element; and moving the embroidery frame to a
position in which the needle position coincides with the second
fabric point C2, the movement being registered by the processor so
that the processor in executing the embroidery rotates the
embroidery element so that a line, which on the embroidery element
runs through the first pattern point D1 and the second pattern
point D2, coincides with a line that runs through the first fabric
point C1 and the second fabric point C2 on the sewing material.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting the
first pattern point D1 to be a first predefined corner point of the
embroidery element; and setting the second pattern point D2 to be a
second predefined corner point of the embroidery element.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: controlling
the sewing with the processor in executing the embroidery so that
the second pattern point D2 is made to coincide with the second
fabric point C2, the processor calculating a scaling factor by
which the embroidery element in the embroidering is scaled in the
direction of the line C1C2; and setting the scaling factor to the
ratio (C2-C1)/(D2-D1).
4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: setting a
third pattern point D3 to be constituted by a third predefined
corner point in the embroidery element; and marking a third fabric
point C3 on the sewing material in order to mark the position for
placing of the third pattern point D3 for embroidering of the
embroidery element, the processor calculating a scaling factor by
which the embroidery element in the embroidering is scaled in the
direction defined by the perpendicular from the third fabric point
C3 to the line through the first fabric point C1 and the second
fabric point C2; and setting the scaling factor to the ratio
between the distance from the third fabric point C3 to the line
C1C2 and the distance from the pattern point D3 to the line
D1D2.
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: displaying
an image of the embroidery element on a screen, pattern points D1,
D2, D3 being defined by the operator for registering in the
processor.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting the
first pattern point D1 to be matched by the position for a first
stitch in the embroidery element selected by the operator; and
setting the second pattern point D2 to be matched by the position
for a second stitch in the embroidery element selected by the
operator.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: in
executing the embroidery the processor controls the sewing so that
the second pattern point D2 is made to coincide with the second
fabric point C2, the processor calculating a scaling factor by
which the embroidery element in the embroidering is scaled in the
direction of the line C1C2; and the scaling factor is set to the
ratio (C2-C1)/(D2-D1).
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: setting a
third pattern point D3 to be matched by the position for a third
stitch in the embroidery element selected by the operator; marking
a third fabric point C3 on the sewing material in order to mark the
position for placing of the third pattern point D3 for embroidering
of the embroidery element, the processor calculating a scaling
factor by which the embroidery element in the embroidering is
scaled in the direction defined by the perpendicular from the third
fabric point C3 to the line through the first fabric point C1 and
the second fabric point C2; and setting the scaling factor to the
ratio between the distance from the fabric point C3 to the line
C1C2 and the distance from the pattern point D3 to the line
D1D2.
9. A sewing machine for performing a method for placing an
embroidery in a desired position on a sewing material, the sewing
machine comprising: a control program which registers the position
on the embroidery element for a first pattern point D1 and a second
pattern point D2, which are fed into the program by an operator;
wherein the control program is designed to register a movement of
the embroidery frame lengthwise and widthwise when the operator
places the needle exactly over a marked first fabric point C1 and a
marked second fabric point C2; wherein the control program is
designed to perform calculations in order to place the first
pattern point D1 on the first fabric point C1 and to orient the
embroidery element so that a line through pattern points D1 and D2
is located on a line through fabric points C1 and C2; and wherein
the control program is designed to perform calculations in order to
determine a scale factor for the embroidery element to be sewn to a
ratio (C2-C1)/(D2-D1).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIIONS
This application claims priority to Swedish patent application
0501249-7 filed Jun. 1, 2005.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for a
sewing machine. In particular the invention demonstrates an
arrangement and a method for correctly placing, orienting and
scaling an embroidery on a fabric when sewing an embroidery, stored
in a memory, by means of the sewing machine.
PRIOR ART
Executing embroideries by means of a sewing machine, in which the
embroidery is stored in a memory that contains stitch data for the
embroidery, is already known. An operator selects an embroidery
from the memory and places a sewing material, on which the
embroidery is to be executed, stretched out on an embroidery frame,
which is arranged on the sewing machine in such a way that a
control program for the sewing machine mechanically moves the
embroidery frame according to the control program and stitch data
for executing the embroidery on the sewing material. The sewing
material is usually a fabric, which term will henceforward be used
as an example to denote all types of sewing material.
When a pattern is to be embroidered in a certain position on the
fabric, the operator places a marking on the fabric so that this
marking is visible inside the embroidery frame. The operator then
moves the frame so that the needle of the sewing machine is brought
to coincide with the marking, the movement made being registered in
the sewing machine processor, so that the selected embroidery can
be executed with the chosen marking as the starting point. An
example of such a prior art is shown in the document U.S. Pat. No.
6,000,350. The content of said documents is hereby incorporated in
its entirety into the present description.
The operator often wishes to place a certain pattern in a certain
position on a piece of fabric, for example a strip of text or an
attractive image over a pocket on a garment. In the prior art the
operator has to manually adjust the position, size and rotation of
the pattern in order to get the pattern to fit on the garment as
intended. The manual adjustment is time-consuming, since
adjustments have to be made in several stages with small changes at
each stage.
Another difficulty arises when the operator wishes to sew the same
pattern a number of times in succession, the fabric having to be
retensioned on the frame between each operation. This is done, for
example, in order to be able to produce large embroideries on a
surface of the fabric which is situated outside the area that is
accessible within the embroidery frame, as is the case, for
example, with embroidery on runners or large tablecloths. When
doing this it is essential that the pattern that is to be
embroidered is correctly positioned and aligned with parts of the
overall embroidery sewn earlier, in order that the overall result
will look like a single embroidery.
The difficulties inherent in the prior art are most manifest where
a pattern that is to be embroidered by means of the sewing machine
does not readily lend itself to marking on the fabric. The operator
cannot himself select the point on the pattern that is to serve as
starting point for the embroidery. Nor can the orientation of the
pattern, that is to say the angle at which the pattern must be
rotated on the fabric, be easily determined by the operator. A
further difficulty arises if the operator wishes to adjust the size
of the chosen pattern lengthwise and/or widthwise.
The convenience of a freely selected starting point for the pattern
becomes most apparent when the point associated with the pattern
and stored in the memory lies inside an area of the embroidery that
does not have any pronounced characteristics, for example where the
embroidery is to start from a point which lies inside a flower
petal for an embroidery that consists of a flower. For certain
patterns the starting point for the embroidery may lie outside
areas that are to be embroidered.
An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement and
a method for avoiding the problems indicated and in this way to
permit a free choice of starting point for the embroidery and to
further facilitate the orientation and scaling of an embroidery
from a pattern.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention can be implemented in a sewing machine in various
ways. The present description describes the embroidery of patterns
on an embroidery sewing machine according to the invention, in
which the sewing machine can be adjusted by the operator for
placing an embroidery on the sewing material (the fabric) according
to at least two modes. These modes are hereinafter denoted as first
mode, mode1, and a second mode, mode2.
In the first mode existing embroidery elements are used, which are
provided in the form of ready-programmed embroidery elements stored
in an internal memory of the sewing machine or fed into the sewing
machine from an external memory unit. These existing embroidery
elements are provided in various geometric configurations having
defined boundary lines and corners, the embroidery elements
consisting, for example, of rectangular, triangular or some other
polygon containing an embroidery pattern. Adjusting the embroidery
element on a sewing material, thereby allowing any of the corners
of the embroidery element to be set to form the points of the
pattern D1, D2 or D3 as described, makes it easy to turn the
embroidery element as required on the fabric and if so desired to
scale the embroidery element lengthwise and/or widthwise
(lengthwise here relates to the extent along a base line formed by
one of the boundary lines for the embroidery element and widthwise
relates to a direction that is perpendicular to the selected base
line).
In the prior art an available embroidery element usually has a
point from which the embroidery starts. This point may be a certain
stitch (usually the first stitch) or a co-ordinate within the
defining area of the embroidery element (for example a corner or
the centre of the smallest rectangle enclosing the embroidery
element). As stated, this starting point may be defined within a
field that is to be embroidered with stitches in the embroidery
element, or even outside the field that is to be embroidered with
stitches. In these cases it is difficult for the operator to
specify the precise co-ordinates for its corresponding point on the
sewing material, that is to say where on the sewing material the
starting point for the embroidery is to be placed. By using the
second mode for placing the embroidery element on the sewing
material (the fabric), the operator can himself select certain
stitches in the embroidery element which are to constitute pattern
points D1, D2 and D3 for defining the placing of the embroidery
element on the fabric. The operator can thereby select highly
significant points in the pattern of the embroidery element, such
as a corner of a letter, the end of a line or the tip of a
geometric field in the pattern, for example the outermost tip of a
flower petal. Points of this type are easy to select and belong to
the points which the operator can easily identify before marking
their desired position on the fabric (that is to say the points
which here in the description have been named with fabric
points).
The invention therefore provides a solution in which a sewing
machine has been equipped with means so that the sewing machine
automatically adjusts the position, size and rotation of a selected
embroidery element in such a way that the embroidery will fit into
an available area on the fabric without the sewing machine operator
needing to retension this or to position it manually or alter the
size of the pattern.
Further characteristics of the present invention are demonstrated
in the following detailed description, which is to be interpreted
in association with the drawings attached. It must be emphasized
that the drawings are given solely for the purpose of illustration
and do not limit the invention. The drawings are not drawn to scale
and only show the underlying concept of structures and procedures
described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1a shows a fabric that is to be embroidered, the fabric being
stretched on an embroidery frame and points being marked which
indicate how an embroidery element is to be oriented on the
fabric.
FIG. 1b shows a pattern with reference points (pattern points) of
an embroidery element, which is to be placed on the marked position
according to FIG. 1a.
FIG. 2a shows a fabric that is to be embroidered, the fabric being
stretched on an embroidery frame and points being marked which
indicate how a pattern from an embroidery element is to be oriented
on the fabric.
FIG. 2b shows a pattern that is used in FIG. 2a and illustrates
selected reference points on the pattern (pattern points)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
A number of embodiments of the invention will be described below
with reference to the drawings attached.
FIG. 1a shows an example of how mode1 can be used in an embroidery
machine for placing a selected embroidery pattern that is to say
oriented to a desired position on a garment 1, such as a sweater
according to the drawing. The part of the fabric of the garment 1
where the embroidery is to be executed is stretched on an
embroidery frame 2 and is connected to the sewing machine in a
known manner. The sewing machine operator selects an embroidery
element 3 that is either retrieved from the memory of the sewing
machine or is read in from an external memory. An example of a
selected embroidery element 3 is shown in FIG. 1b. Using boundary
lines or corners, the operator marks where on the garment the
embroidery element 3 is to be placed, so that an embroidery with
the pattern as specified by the embroidery element ends up within
the confines specified by the operator. FIG. 1a shows co-ordinates
which the operator has specified for corners of the embroidery
element. The corners which on the garment 1, that is to say the
fabric, must be matched by corners of the embroidery element are
denoted by C1, C2, C3, C4. As will be shown, it will suffice for
the operator to specify two points, in this case C1 and C2, in
order for the embroidery element to end up in the correct position
and with the correct orientation on the fabric.
In FIG. 1b the corners of the embroidery element 3 are referred to
as D1 to D4 and in this description are called pattern points.
According to the mode, mode 1, the operator is required to select a
first corner as the first pattern point D1. In this case the bottom
left-hand corner is selected as the first pattern point D1. The
operator is then required to move the embroidery frame 2 lengthwise
and widthwise until the sewing machine needle is placed exactly
over the first fabric point C1, which is confirmed to the sewing
machine control program (in the processor) by a confirmation from
the operator to the control program. During the movement the sewing
machine processor is fed with data, that is to say with the
co-ordinates as the embroidery frame 2 is moved lengthwise and
widthwise. The control program is hereby now coded in order to move
the corner D1 of the embroidery element to point C1 on the fabric.
If, in this position, the operator wishes the sewing machine to
rotate the pattern, the control program requires the operator to
select a further corner, in this case exemplified by the lower
right-hand corner of the embroidery element, as the second pattern
point D2. The operator moves the embroidery frame 2 once again so
that the needle will be placed exactly over the second fabric point
C2 and confirms this second position to the control program.
Performing these steps gives the sewing machine control program
sufficient information to place pattern point D1 of the embroidery
element on fabric point C1 of the fabric and to rotate the pattern
(that is to say the entire embroidery element) in such a way that
the line D1D2 of the embroidery element will be placed on the line
C1C2 on the fabric for embroidering. The processor in the sewing
machine automatically performs the calculations required in order
to produce the rotation. This is done by means of common geometric
calculations and will not be described here.
In this situation the operator also has an option to scale the
entire pattern of the embroidery element lengthwise. The operator
can order this, for example, by specifying that pattern point D2 on
the fabric must be matched by fabric point C2. The distance C1C2
will thereby be shorter, longer or equal to the corresponding
distance D1D2 of the pattern, depending on where the operator
places the fabric point C2. The processor here calculates a scaling
factor which consists of the ratio between the distances C1C2 and
D1D2. This scaling factor is then used for a scaling of all
dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the pattern when
embroidering this on the fabric.
If so desired, the pattern can also be scaled widthwise. In this
situation there is the facility to select a third pattern point D3
of the embroidery element which specifies the height of the pattern
in relation to a base line consisting of the perpendicular from the
point D3 to the line through points D1 and D2. When the embroidery
element comprises a figure in which the height is given, such as
square, a rectangle, a triangle etc, the height of the embroidery
element may be given in the control program. The operator thus
marks a third fabric point C3 on the fabric, which then indirectly
specifies the height for the actual, resulting embroidery of the
pattern according to the embroidery element. The position of the
fabric point C3 is then correspondingly fed into the control
program by moving the embroidery frame 2 so that the needle is
placed exactly over the fabric point C3, where this position is
confirmed to the control program, so that the co-ordinates for the
fabric point C3 will be known. The control program can hereby
calculate the scaling widthwise, that is to say by what scaling
factor the height of the pattern on the embroidery element must be
scaled widthwise on the fabric when embroidering. The sewing
machine processor calculates said heights according to ordinary
geometry. The scaling factor will here consist of the ratio between
the perpendicular distance from point C3 to the line that runs
through points C1 and C2 and the distance from pattern point D3 to
the line that runs through points D1 and D2 on the embroidery
element.
An alternative method for ensuring that a pattern from an
embroidery element is correctly placed on a piece of fabric when
embroidering with the sewing machine is described below. This
alternative is described as using a second mode, mode2, for
embroidering and its use is specific to cases in which a number of
patterns are to be laid out on a piece of fabric for embroidering.
Such an example is given in FIG. 2a, which shows a recurring
pattern in the form of a flower that is repetitively embroidered on
a fabric, for example. In theses cases it is easier to select
certain corners, or points on the pattern which it is intended to
locate on certain pre-selected points on the fabric. In the example
according to FIG. 2a a fabric is stretched on an embroidery frame
2. A pair of identical flowers 4 are already embroidered in a row
and the operator wishes to embroider a further identical flower 5
(FIG. 2b) in the row. The operator has therefore already previously
indicated that certain points of the flower in the pattern are to
be placed on points C1 to C3 represented in FIG. 2a.
By, for example, displaying the embroidery element on a screen, a
display or the like, the operator, using a pointer or a hairline,
for example, can select certain stitches in the pattern which are
reproduced on the embroidery element and thereby use then as
pattern points, which must be matched by fabric points on the
fabric. An example of this is given in FIG. 2b, in which an
embroidery pattern in the form of the flower 5 has been given the
pattern points D1, D2 and D3. D1 and D3 are easily defined points
in that they are the outermost tips of flower petals and D2 is the
bottom point of the flower stalk.
When using mode2 the sewing machine processor requires the first
pattern point D1 to be fed in, following which the operator
confirms the selection of first pattern point to the control
program. In a manner corresponding to mode1 the operator now moves
the embroidery frame 2 by means of the sewing machine embroidery
frame feed mechanism as the control program registers the movement
to the first fabric point C1 and confirms to the program that the
needle is placed exactly over the selected fabric point C1. When
embroidering the pattern the sewing machine control program will
now place the selected first pattern point D1 on the position for
the selected fabric point C1.
If the operator wants an automatic rotation of the pattern, mode2
affords the facility for aligning the pattern according to the
embroidery element with the desired orientation on the fabric by
adding a further pattern point, a second pattern point D2, of the
pattern, as shown in the example of the flower pattern above. The
operator again moves the embroidery frame 2 so that the needle will
be placed exactly over the second fabric point C2, and confirms
this second position to the control program.
Performing these steps gives the sewing machine control program
sufficient information to place pattern point D1 of the embroidery
element on fabric point C1 of the fabric and to rotate the pattern
(that is to say the entire embroidery element) in such a way that
the line D1D2 of the embroidery element will be placed on the line
C1C2 of the fabric for embroidering. The processor in the sewing
machine automatically performs the calculations required in order
to produce the rotation. This is done by means of common geometric
calculations and will not be described here.
As in the case of mode1, the operator has an option to select
scaling of the pattern along a base line passing through pattern
points D1 and D2, here termed the lengthwise direction. Scaling can
also be performed in a direction perpendicular to the base line,
here termed the widthwise direction. Scaling lengthwise only
requires marking of the points C1 and C2 on the fabric
(corresponding to the selected pattern points D1 and D2 on the
embroidery element). When the widthwise scaling option is selected,
the program requires the operator to feed in a further point. A
third pattern point D3 selected in this way is shown in FIG. 2b. A
corresponding third fabric point C3 is marked on the fabric as the
point on which the third pattern point D3 is to be placed for
actual embroidering of the pattern. A scaling factor for lengthwise
and widthwise scaling is calculated here (using mode2) in the same
way as when calculating corresponding scaling factors in mode1.
The operator also has a facility for arrangement so that the
pattern depicted on an embroidery element is executed sloping when
embroidering the pattern on the fabric. This is automatic when the
scaling factor over the distance C1C2 is 1:1, that is to say when
transferring this to the fabric produces no reduction of the
distance D1D2 and where the further fabric point C3 is set to
another position relative to points C1 and C2 other than the
relative position which the corresponding pattern point D3 occupies
in relation to points D1 and D2 on the embroidery element.
Although the present invention has been described in connection
with specific embodiments it is not intended to be limited to the
specific form(s) in which they have been represented in this
description. In reality the scope of the present invention is only
limited by the following patent claims. In the claims, such terms
as comprising or including do not exclude the presence of other
elements or steps. Furthermore, although not individually listed, a
plurality of arrangements, elements or steps in the method may be
implement in a single unit, for example. In addition, although
individual characteristics may be included in different patent
claims, these may feasibly be advantageously combined and the
inclusion in different patent claims does not means that a
combination of characteristics is not suitable and/or advantageous.
Singular references moreover do not exclude a plurality. References
to "one", "first", "second" etc. therefore do not preclude the
existence of a plurality, unless this is explicitly emphasized.
Reference numerals in the patent claims are only provided as
elucidatory examples and must not be interpreted as limiting the
scope of the patent claims in any way.
* * * * *